ROCHESTER, NY--(Marketwired - Nov 14, 2017) - Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSE American: DSS), ("DSS"), a leader in anti-counterfeit, authentication, and diversion protection technologies whose products and solutions are used by governments, corporations and financial institutions to defeat fraud and to help ensure the authenticity of both digital and physical financial instruments, identification documents, sensitive publications, brand packaging and websites, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

"Sales for the third quarter of 2017 were impacted by the timing of some projects that slipped into the fourth quarter, especially for our printed products group. Our technology sales continued to expand, including significant growth in our AuthentiGuard product. When compared to our third quarter of 2016, overall technology sales are only down due to a one-time $150,000 settlement license we received in last year's third quarter." stated Jeff Ronaldi, CEO of DSS. "I am pleased to see that we were able to continue our string of profitable Adjusted EBITDA quarters despite the softness in sales. This reflects the core strength of our business and the impact of our continued investment in our technology-based business opportunities. Thus far in 2017, Adjusted EBITDA profit is up 104% to over $800,000 and I expect that we will finish the year with another strong fourth quarter, especially in our printed products divisions," added Ronaldi.

Third Quarter 2017 Financial Highlights

Revenue for the third quarter of 2017 was $4.2 million, down 16% from the same quarter in 2016. During the third quarter of 2017, the Company's technology sales, services and licensing revenue decreased by 19%, while printed products revenue decreased 15%, as compared to the third quarter of 2016. Absent the $150,000 one-time license settlement recorded in the third quarter of 2016, technology sales for the third quarter of 2017 would have reflected a 13% increase, primarily based on an increase in AuthentiGuard product sales. Overall, year-to-date revenue for 2017 is down by 4% as compared to the same period in 2016.

Costs and expenses for the third quarter of 2017 decreased 11%, driven by a 16% decrease in direct product costs and decreases in most other expense categories except for sales and marketing related expenses, which increased 48%, and reflects the investment in the growth of our AuthentiGuard anti-counterfeiting and authentication technology sales. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, total costs and expenses were approximately $13,257,000, a decrease of 6% from $14,128,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Net loss during the third quarter of 2017 was approximately $277,000 ($0.02 per share), compared to a net loss of $27,000 ($0.00 per share) during the third quarter of 2016. The net loss increase was driven by the decrease in sales, and the impact of a one-time license settlement recorded in the third quarter of 2016. Net loss during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was approximately $726,000 ($0.05 per share), a 25% decrease compared to a net loss of $969,000 ($0.07 per share) during the first nine months of 2016.

Adjusted EBITDA1 for the third quarter of 2017 was approximately $191,000 as compared to $397,000 for the third quarter of 2016, which represents a 52% decrease. The decrease was driven by the decrease in sales, and the impact of a one-time license settlement recorded in the third quarter of 2016. For the nine months ended, September 30, 2017, Adjusted EBITDA was approximately $817,000 as compared to approximately $400,000 during the first nine months of 2016, an improvement of 104%.

A full analysis of results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 is available in the Company's Form 10-Q, which is available on the Company's website at www.dsssecure.com or through the Securities and Exchange Commission's Edgar database at www.sec.gov.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSForward-looking statements that may be contained in this press release, including, without limitation, statements related to the Company's plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, potential value, intentions and adequacy of resources, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act and contain words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "intends" and similar words and phrases. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected in any forward-looking statement. In addition to the factors specifically noted in the forward-looking statements, other important factors, risks and uncertainties that could result in those differences include, but are not limited to, our ability to continue the growth in sales of AuthentiGuard and manage our expenses, as well as those risks disclosed in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2017. Forward-looking statements that may be contained in this press release are being made as of the date of its release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

1ADJUSTED EBITDAThe Company uses Adjusted EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial performance measurement. The Company calculates Adjusted EBITDA by adding back to net income (loss): interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, and impairment charges as further adjusted to add back stock-based compensation expense and non-recurring items. Adjusted EBITDA is provided to investors to supplement the results of operations reported in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides an additional tool for investors to use in comparing the Company's financial results with other companies in the industry, many of which also use Adjusted EBITDA in their communications to investors. By excluding non-cash charges such as amortization, depreciation, stock-based compensation and impairment charges, as well as non-operating charges for interest and income taxes, investors can evaluate the Company's operations and its ability to generate cash flows from operations and can compare its results on a more consistent basis to the results of other companies in the industry. Management also uses Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate potential acquisitions, establish internal budgets and goals, and evaluate performance of its business units and management. The Company considers Adjusted EBITDA to be an important indicator of the Company's operational strength and performance of its business and a useful measure of the Company's historical and prospective operating trends. However, there are significant limitations to the use of Adjusted EBITDA since it excludes interest income and expense and income taxes and non-recurring items such as goodwill impairments, each of which impact the Company's profitability and operating cash flows, as well as depreciation, amortization, impairment charges and stock-based compensation. The Company believes that these limitations are compensated by clearly identifying the difference between the two measures. Consequently, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income and loss presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA as defined by the Company may not be comparable with similarly named measures provided by other entities. The following is a reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA loss: